World Series of Poker® Announces Plans for 2021

Rhea-AI Summary

Caesars Entertainment has announced the much-anticipated return of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2021, featuring the iconic $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em World Championship, known as 'The Main Event'. This in-person event will take place at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino from Sept. 30 to Nov. 23. The opening weekend will include a charity event for frontline health workers and a $5 million GTD No-Limit Hold'em tournament. Additionally, WSOP plans to host an online series starting July 1, after achieving record participation and prize payouts in 2020, totaling nearly $150 million across events.

Positive

• Return of in-person WSOP events expected to boost attendance and revenue.
• Record participation in online tournaments in 2020, with almost $150 million awarded.
• Introduction of special charity event benefiting frontline health workers.

Negative

• Potential risks associated with COVID-19 could impact live events.
• Merger and acquisition uncertainties could affect competitive positioning.

LAS VEGAS, April 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Series of Poker (WSOP) today announced much-anticipated plans for 2021, including the return of the live, in-person World Series of Poker event and $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em World Championship, best known as "The Main Event®".

World Series of Poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino

The world-famous tournament series, which experienced record-smashing participation in 2019 and adjusted to a hybrid format to accommodate 2020, will be back in-person at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino this fall pending applicable state and/or regulatory approvals.  Cards will be in the air for a diverse calendar of events beginning Thursday, Sept. 30 with all play concluding on Tuesday, Nov. 23. 

The 2021 opening weekend is expected to feature a special charity event to benefit frontline health workers, a $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. and a $5 million GTD No-Limit Hold'em event billed as "The Reunion."

Further details and specifics on the complete schedule will be released this summer.

"The Main Event" is expected to begin Thursday, Nov. 4 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 17.  Players will have their choice of four starting days on Thursday, Nov. 4, Friday, Nov. 5, Saturday, Nov. 6, or Sunday Nov. 7.  Players participating on Thursday or Friday will have their Day 2 on Monday, Nov. 8 if they survive the first day with chips.  Those selecting Saturday or Sunday for an opening flight will play their Day 2 on Tuesday, Nov. 9, with the fields combining on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

Hotel room reservations are now being accepted across Caesars Entertainment's Las Vegas resorts, including the headquarters at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, with rates as low as $60 for existing Caesars Rewards members. Visit www.caesars.com using promo code "WSOPM" to make your room reservations. Online pre-registration won't open until this summer, after all events have been determined and approved by regulators. 

Specific COVID-19 safety protocols and other related 2021 tournament policies will be reviewed with gaming regulators in the lead-up to the event.  The World Series of Poker will be compliant with all directives from the state of Nevada regarding social distancing and capacity limits on the tournament dates. 

"This year, more than ever, we embrace our role at the WSOP to deliver memorable experiences and bring this community of poker lovers back together.  In 2021, the theme is, get vaccinated and get back to Vegas," said Ty Stewart, WSOP Executive Director.

WSOP Online 2021

Building off last summer's record-setting success for both domestic and international online poker tournaments, WSOP plans to fill the summer void with an exciting slate of WSOP Gold Bracelet online events.

In 2020, WSOP.com's domestic series awarded nearly $27 million in prize money across its 31 events, making it far and away the biggest online tournament series in the history of U.S. regulated poker.

Similarly, WSOP Online 2020 was a massive draw for international players in partnership with GGPoker, with the WSOP Online Main Event smashing the Guinness Book World Record for largest online poker tournament with a $27.5 million prize pool for a single event.  In total, nearly $150 million in prize money was awarded across the festival, including seven-figure prize pools in 45 events, making it amongst the biggest tournament series in history.

WSOP.com will hold the domestic tournaments on its All-American Poker Network beginning Thursday, July 1, closing with a $1,000 championship. Qualification will be available for as little as $1. 

Complete information about the WSOP Online tournament schedule will be released and published on www.wsop.com on April 15, 2021. Additional information on the international component of WSOP Online 2021 will be published shortly thereafter. 

WSOP Europe 2021

WSOP Europe is expected to round out the year of poker action with its return to King's Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic running from Friday, Nov. 19 through Tuesday, Dec. 8, subject to regulatory approval. 

"We hope and anticipate travel restrictions will ease by the fall," said Stewart. "It's important to us that we have an excellent tournament schedule available to our European players."

The tournament is expected to include 15 gold bracelet events, including a 10,000 euro buy-in WSOP Europe Main Event and a 50,000 euro High Roller event.  For more information on King's Casino and to book hotel rooms, visit https://kings-resort.com/.

Please note: The ability to hold a live, in-person event will be subject to the state of the public health emergency due to COVID-19 and all applicable health, safety, and regulatory approvals, guidelines, and restrictions. WSOP reserves the right to make appropriate modifications to this plan and to the policies and procedures under which the tournament series may be held.

About the World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker® is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, having awarded more than $3.29 billion in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport's top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker's longest-running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970.  In 2019, the event attracted 187,298 entrants from 118 different countries to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and awarded more than $293 million in prize money. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent of WSOP Europe in 2007 and the WSOP Asia-Pacific in 2013 and the WSOP International Circuit Series in 2015. All WSOP events are subject to the then-current and applicable WSOP tournament rules. For more information, please visit www.wsop.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our strategies, objectives and plans for future development or acquisitions of properties or operations, as well as expectations, future operating results and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the terms or phrases such as "anticipates," "believes," "projects," "plans," "intends," "expects," "might," "may," "estimates," "could," "should," "would," "will likely continue," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and with what we believe is a reasonable basis, there can be no assurance that these expectations, beliefs and projections will be realized. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements which are included elsewhere in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include: (a) the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency, including (i) the extent and duration of the impact of the global COVID-19 public health emergency and measures to contain the public health emergency or mitigate its impact on the Company's business, financial results and liquidity; (ii) the ability of the Company to modify its operations to comply with various state, tribal and local directives, mandates, and orders; (iii) the impact of actions the Company has undertaken to reduce costs and improve efficiencies to mitigate losses as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, which could negatively impact guest loyalty and our ability to attract and retain our employees; and (iv) changes and instability in global, national and regional economic activity and financial market activity as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the impact on consumer discretionary spending and travel; (b) the possibility that the proposed acquisition of William Hill and the announced and proposed dispositions are not consummated on the expected terms or at all; (c) risks related to the Merger of the Company and CEC and the proposed acquisition of William Hill and the integration of their respective businesses and assets; (d) potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the Merger and the proposed acquisition of William Hill; (e) the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the Merger and the proposed acquisition of William Hill, including cost savings and expected synergies, are not realized when expected or at all; (f) risks associated with increased leverage and additional rental expense resulting from debt financing undertaken in connection with the Merger and the proposed acquisition of William Hill and real estate transactions undertaken in connection with the Merger; (g) competitive responses to the Merger and the proposed acquisition of William Hill; and (h) additional factors discussed in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's and CEC's respective most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by the forward-looking statements.

In light of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available on our website or otherwise, and we do not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which the statement is made, except as may be required by law.

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SOURCE Caesars Entertainment

FAQ

What are the dates for the 2021 World Series of Poker?

The 2021 World Series of Poker will take place from September 30 to November 23.

Where will the 2021 WSOP be held?

The 2021 WSOP will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

What is the prize pool for the Main Event of the 2021 WSOP?

The Main Event of the 2021 WSOP has a buy-in of $10,000, with significant prize money expected.

When will online WSOP events take place in 2021?

Online WSOP events are scheduled to start on July 1, 2021.

What safety measures will be in place for the 2021 WSOP due to COVID-19?

Specific COVID-19 safety protocols will comply with Nevada state regulations regarding social distancing and capacity limits.